Automatic gate.



Patented Sept. 2, I902 J. H. WILSON.

AUTOMATIC GATE.

(Application filed May 8, 1902.)

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Shed! I.

.6, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

. UNITED STATES PATENT @FFICE.

JAMES H. W'ILSON, OF MOUNT AYR, IOWA.

AUTOMATIC GATE.

SE-EGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 708,445, dated September 2, 1902.

Application filed May 8,1902. Serial No. 106,425. (No model.)

To all whom it may-concern.

Be it known thatI, JAMES H. WILsoN, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Mount Ayr, in the county of Ringgold and Stateof Iowa, have invented a certain new and useful Automatic Gate, of which the following is a means for latching and unlatching the gate and particular means for operating the latch and swinging the gate on its hinges.

With the above and other objects in view, the nature of which will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts as hereinafter fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings,Figure 1 is a perspective view of a gate and gateway complete, showing the gate-swinging and the latch-operating mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail perspectivewiewbf the latch-post and a portion of the gate lying adjacent thereto, including the latch mechanism. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the gate, showing the lever extension and a portion of the latch-operating mechanism. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the latch-post, showing the double keeper. Fig. 5 is a reduced perspective View of the gate and gateway complete, showing a slight modification in the initial operating devices.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a hinge-post, 2 the latch-post, and 3 a gate of any ordinary or preferred construction, connected by hinges 4 with the post 1. The upper rail 5 of the gate is extended over and in rear of the hinge-post 1 to form a lever extension 6-, with which the operating rope or ropes 7 and 8 are indirectly connected by means of a spider, which is pivotally mounted at 9 on the end portion of the lever extension The spider is composed of a series of arms radiatit said rope passing through a guide 14, mounted upon the top rail 5 of the gate andcomprising beveled or rounded directing-faces 15, which serve to properly direct the movements of the latch-rope. The remaining and inwardly-extending arm 16 of the spider is provided with a vertical pin 17, extending transversely therethrough and projecting above and below the arm 16, was to engage and exert an outward pressure on one or the other of the branches 12 as the spider is oscillated in one direction or the other by means of the ropes 7 and S. This insures the proper movement of the latch-rope 13 and provides for sufficient movement thereof to properly actuate the latches, hereinafter described. In order to accommodate the movement of the pin 17, the lever extension 6 is mortised or recessed, as shown at 18. A latch-lever 19 is fnlcrumed between its ends at 20 near the free end of the gate, as shown, and has connected therewith two latch-bars 21 and 22. The latch-bar 21 connects pivotally with the lever 19 at a point below the fulcrum 20, while the latch-bar 22 connects pivotally with said lever above the fulcrum 20. Thus when the lever 19 is vibrated one of the latch-bars is moved outward,while the other is moved inward, and vice versa. The upper latch-bar 22 is, however, normally held outward and in. engagement with its portion of the keeper on the latch-post 2 by means of a spring 23, interposed between the lever 19 and the end upright of the gate and connected with said parts in any convenient manner. The latchrope 13 connects with the upper'end of the lever 19, as shown.

The latch-post 2 has secured to its inner surface adjacent to the gate a double keeper, one part consisting of a single keeper-strip 24 and the other part consisting of a pair of parallel keeper-strips 25, set a distance apart greater than the thickness of the upper latchbar 22, which engages therewith and between the same. The normal position and relation of the latch-bars and keepers is illustrated in Fig. 2, and by reference to said figure it will be apparent that when the upper end of the latch-lever 19 is thrown back the latch-bar 22 will be withdrawn from between the strips 25, and as lateral pressure is simultaneously applied to the gate the gate will be swung open in one direction or the other, according to which operating-rope is pulled. The operating-rope is pulled upon and kept taut until the gate swings slightly past one or the other of a pair of standards 26, located at opposite sides of the gate and at one side of the roadway. The rope is then released, which allows the spring 23 to throw the upperlatchbar 22 outward, whereupon it engages behind the keeper-strip 27 on the standard 26, both standards being similarly provided with keeper-strips 27. The sagging of the gate and hinge-post will not affect or interfere with the working of the latch. After passing through the gate the rider pulls upon the opposite rope, and the first effect is to disengage the latch from the keeper 27, then swing the gate to its closed position. By keeping the operating-rope taut the lower latch-bar 21 is projected, and as the gate swings to, said latch-bar 21 strikes against the lower single keeperstrip 24. Then releasing the tension upon the operating-rope, the upper latch-bar 22 is forced between the parallel keeper-strips 25 by the operation of the spring 23, the lower latch-bar 21 being at the same time withdrawn from engagement with the strip 24. Each of the standards 26 is provided at the top with a cross-head 28, extending obliquely or at an angle to the roadway and provided at opposite ends with guide-pulleys 29, journaled thereon. One arm of the cross-head extends to the rearward or away from the roadway, and this gives the proper purchase on the lever extension of the gate for closing the gate afterit has been swung open. The other arm of the cross-head extends inward partially over the roadway, so as to bring the pendent end of the operating-rope and the handle 30 thereof within convenient reach of a rider or driver, obviating the necessity for driving the horse or vehicle up close to one or the other of the standards 26. The cross-heads 28 are of course mounted rigidly on the standards 26.

Windlasses 31 may be substituted for the pulleys 29 on the inner arms of the crossheads 28, as shown in Fig. 5, and the ends of the operating-ropes may be wound thereon, so that the gate may be swung and the latch mechanism actuated by operating one or the other of the windlasses 31. The preferred construction, however, is illustrated in Fig. 1. Instead-of guide-pulleys 29 eyes may be provided for guiding the operating-ropes,and thus obtaining the proper leverage or purby Letters Patent, is

1. In an automatic gate, the combination with a hinged and horizontally-swinging gate, of latch mechanism comprising a latch-lever, latch-bars operatively connected therewith and adapted to be moved thereby simultaneously in opposite directions, and a double keeper 011 the latch-post consisting of portions adapted to be individually engaged by the respective latch-bars.

2. In an automatic gate, the combination with a hinged and horizontally-swinging gate, of a latch-lever fulcrumed thereon, latch-bars operatively connected with said lever and simultaneously movable in opposite directions, a single keeper-strip with which one of said latch-bars is adapted to engage, and parallel keeper-strips between which the other latchbar is adapted to engage, the several keeperstrips being mounted upon the latch-post.

3. In an automatic gate, the combination with a hinged and horizon tally-swinging gate, of a latch-lever fulcrumed intermediate its ends on the gate, latch-bars operatively connected with said latch-lever at opposite sides of its fulcrum,a spring for vibrating the latchlever in one direction, an operating-rope for drawing the lever in an opposite direction, a [0'1 latch-post, and a double keeper on the latchpost comprising a single keeper-strip with which one of the latch-bars is adapted to engage, and parallel keeper-strips with which the other latch-bar is adapted to engage.

4. In an automatic gate, the combination with a hinged and horizontally-swinging gate, of a lever extension on the gate projecting in rear of the hinged post, a spider pivotally mounted on the lever extension comprising radiating-arms, operating-ropes connected with one arm of the spider, a gate-latch, a latch-rope extending from the latch and bifurcated to form branches which connect with lateral arms of the spider, and a pin extending through the inwardly-projecting arm of the spider and adapted to engage the branches of the latch-rope, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES H. WILSON.

Witnesses:

W. H. FENDER, P. B. ANDERSON. 

